BEGONIA PLANT NAMED &#39;BeTesorang&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BeTesorang’, characterized by its uniform, upright to broadly outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and single-type female and semi-double male flowers that are bright orange in color.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Begonia Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Wendela Antoinette ter Laak

U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 63/126,390

Filed: Dec. 16, 2020

Botanical designation: Begonia boliviensis X Begonia tuberhyrida

Cultivar denomination: ‘BeTesorang’

Inventor/Applicant claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders' Rights application filed for the instant plant filed on Jun. 3, 2020, application number 2020/1216. No accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed Plant Breeder's Rights documents.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR & APPLICANT/AS SIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or the Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia boliviensis X Begonia tuberhybrida, commonly referred to as a Hybrid Tuberous Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BeTesorang’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous and strong Begonia plants with numerous attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination on May 30, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis X Begonia tuberhybrida identified as code number 13-551-07, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis X Begonia tuberhybrida identified as code number 13-489-14, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands on Nov. 21, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands, since Dec. 14, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BeTesorang’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BeTesorang’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Uniform, upright to broadly outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3 Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5 Single-type female and semi-double male flowers that are         bright orange in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flower tepals of plants of the new Begonia are straight         whereas flower tepals of plants of the female parent selection         are reflexed.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger and darker green leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3 Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are bright orange in         color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are         orange and white in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia pendula X Begonia boliviensis ‘Encanto Orange’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,898. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more rounded than plants of         ‘Encanto Orange’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Encanto Orange’.     -   3 Flowers of plants of the new Begonia have shorter tepals than         flowers of plants of ‘Encanto Orange’.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the Begonia boliviensis ‘Bonfire’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,108. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘Bonfire’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have larger and darker         green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Bonfire’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Bonfire’.     -   3 Flowers of plants of the new Begonia have shorter tepals than         flowers of plants of ‘Bonfire’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BeTesorang’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown in 13-cm containers during the winter and early spring in a glass-covered greenhouse in Venhuizen, The Netherlands. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia boliviensis X Begonia tuberhybrida     ‘BeTesorang’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis X Begonia tuberhybrida identified as code number             13-551-07, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis X Begonia tuberhybrida identified as code number             13-489-14, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to             four weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically whitish in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants             of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Uniform, upright to broadly             outwardly spreading plant habit; plant shape roughly             flattened globular to spreading; freely branching habit with             about seven basal branches each with about two to three             lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous             to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20.8             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 19.5             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 51.1 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 17.5 cm. Diameter:             About 7 mm. Internode length: About 2.9 cm. Strength:             Moderately weak, bending with the weight of the leaves and             flowers. Aspect: Ranging from about 40° to about 80° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;             moderately glossy. Color, developing: Close to 199A. Color,             developed: Close to N199A; at the internodes, close to N199A             slightly tinged with close to 183A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, distichous;             simple. Length: About 12.9 cm. Width: About 4.8 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Broadly oblique;             lobes not imbricate. Margin: Dentate to serrate and doubly             dentate to serrate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth and mostly glabrous with             sparse pubescence along midvein; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: A blend of close to 187A and 200B. Developing             leaves, lower surface: A blend of close to N186C and 187A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than a blend of             close to N189A and 203A; venation, close to 145A and towards             the petiole, close to N144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 183B; venation, close to 152A. Petioles:             Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent;             moderately glossy. Strength: Low. Color, upper surface:             Close to 175A; towards the leaf attachment, close to 185A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 178B. Stipules: Quantity per             leaf: Two at the base of each leaf. Length: About 9 mm.             Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Deltoid to ovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire, ciliate. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 181C; venation, close to             183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate female flowers are single-types;             rotate male flowers are semi-double types; flowers arranged             in simple axillary cymes; freely flowering habit with about             three flowers per cyme and about 280 flowers developing per             plant during the flowering season; flowers face outwardly to             nodding or drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about six weeks             after pinching.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 14.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.8 cm.         -   Flower buds, female flowers.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter,             flattened: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Ovate; flattened.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color:             Close to 32A.         -   Flower buds, male flowers.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter,             flattened: About 9 mm to 23 mm. Shape: Roughly obovate;             flattened. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; velvety;             matte. Color: Close to 32A.         -   Female flowers.—Size: About 6.5 cm by 6.5 cm. Depth: About             3.5 cm. Tepals: Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five in             two whorls; inner whorl with three tepals and outer whorl             with two tepals. Length, inner tepals: About 3.4 cm. Length,             outer tepals: About 3.5 cm. Width, inner tepals: About             1.5 cm. Width, outer tepals: About 2.1 cm. Shape, inner             tepals: Narrowly obovate to oblanceolate. Shape, outer             tepals: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex, inner tepals: Obtuse.             Apex, outer tepals: Acute. Base, inner and outer tepals:             Cuneate. Margin, inner and outer tepals: Entire; not             undulate. Texture and luster, inner and outer tepals, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, inner and outer tepals, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; mostly matte with the             base, slightly glossy. Color, inner and outer tepals: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 33B;             venation, close to 35A; color becoming closer to 30A with             subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 32A; venation, close to 32A; color does             not change with subsequent development. Tepaloids: None             observed on female flowers.         -   Male flowers.—Size: About 6.9 cm by 6.9 cm. Depth: About             3.9 cm. Tepals: Quantity per flower and arrangement: Four in             two whorls; inner whorl with two tepals and outer whorl with             two tepals. Length, inner tepals: About 4.4 cm. Length,             outer tepals: About 4.7 cm. Width, inner tepals: About             1.5 cm. Width, outer tepals: About 2.9 cm. Shape, inner             tepals: Narrowly oblong. Shape, outer tepals: Narrowly ovate             to narrowly elliptic. Apex, inner tepals: Rounded. Apex,             outer tepals: Acute. Base, inner tepals: Attenuate. Base,             outer tepals: Cuneate. Margin, inner and outer tepals:             Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, inner and outer             tepals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;             matte. Texture and luster, inner and outer tepals, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; mostly matte             with the base, moderately glossy. Color, inner and outer             tepals: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 33B; venation, close to 35A; color becoming closer to 30A             with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 32A; venation, close to 35A; color             does not change with subsequent development. Tepaloids:             Quantity per flower and arrangement: About two at the center             of the flower, opposite. Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Narrowly             attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             velvety; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 29B; towards the margins, close to 29A and             towards the apex, close to 32A; venation, similar to lamina             colors; color does not change with subsequent development.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 29B;             towards the margins, close to 29A and towards the apex,             close to 32A; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does             not change with subsequent development.         -   Peduncles: Length: About 8.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: About 50° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately weak; flexible and bending with the weight of the             flowers. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 172A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 174A.         -   Pedicels, female flowers.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Angle: About 45° from the peduncle axis.             Strength: Moderately weak; flexible, bending with the weight             of the flowers. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 34B. Color, lower             surface: Close to 31B.         -   Pedicels, male flowers.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately weak;             flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 34B. Color, lower surface: Close to 31B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Two, at             the top of the peduncles. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About             1.6 cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire; ciliate. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 173B tinged with             close to 195B and towards the margins, close to 34B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present only on male             flowers. Stamen quantity per flower: About 70. Filament             length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 11A. Anther             size: About 1 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther             color: Close to 13A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 4D. Gynoecium: Present only on female             flowers. Quantity per flower: About three. Pistil length:             About 6 mm. Stigma diameter: About 5 mm. Stigma shape:             Cleft. Stigma color: Close to 14A. Style length: About 5 mm.             Style color: Close to 25A. Ovary color: Close to 145A tinged             with close to N170B and at the apex, close to 171A. Seeds             and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and     pests common to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of     the new Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BeTesorang’ as illustrated and described. 